As fun as it has been to revisit Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, I have also been dreading watching Season 2 or more specifically the final episode. It's not that it's bad. Quite the opposite. It's what they set up that left me feeling like this really could go somewhere special. The ending itself is almost poetic in how everything leads to a reunion with Derek, last seen getting killed in the episode before the finale. But before we get to that, time to address the bulk of Season 2.

As I mentioned in my Season 1review, I was dead set against the Terminator mythology being turned into a TV series. But I came out a fan after the first season. Could Season 2 match it? It does in spades. There are a lot of excellent episodes that further the narrative in a different way, but still using the blueprint by James Cameron. Some people hate the series and others don't. I enjoyed this season immensely because of the depth they kept adding to all the characters as well as deepening the mythology. Having Cameron "broken" added a sense of danger that she could turn against Conner again. As much as I hated the Jesse character played by Stephanie Jacobsen, I liked the angle of a Future Resistance Fighter coming back in time for the sole purpose of driving a wedge between John Conner and Cameron (Summer Glau). Having Derek stuck in the middle added to it because in a way, he was messing up future events because of his own relationship to her. Another welcome addition was Shirley Manson playing a present day T-1000, Catherine Weaver.

We don't know what the endgame of Weaver is for all of Season 2, that is until the final episode. It's only then that it's made known they are forming an Alliance, to do battle against the Machines. Yes, things are a bit unclear giving that the T-1000 is the main baddie in T2: Judgement Day. But if a T-800 can be reprogrammed, I can accept Liquid Metal changing sides. Now to the Season Finale episode. The ending as I said was poetry. With Derek dead, and now Cameron as well and Sarah Conner choosing to stay behind, Weaver and John are heading into the future to hunt down John Henry (the modern day Terminator). We don't know what's gonna be waiting on the other side once he gets there and that's the cool thing about what could have been. The final scene has John reuniting with Derek (who doesn't know him yet) as well as Cameron. Both are strangers to him. But the kicker is having John finally meeting his father, Kyle in person, the one thing that has been at the heart of the series mythology is now realized.

So, we are in the future now. Credits roll. Cancelled. I can't tell you how p*ssed off I was when the news came down. I've had a good 5 years away from the show and it still stings. It just sucks that FOX didn't give it one more season to wrap things up. Anyway, as much as I like this season, it's not perfect. There are still a couple of hiccups along the way . But it doesn't take away from it at all. Definitely worth a Buy. It's definitely worth picking up just for the finale scene, as heartbreaking as it is knowing there is no more coming afterward. I recently picked up both Season 1 and 2 (hence the marathon) and I don't ever see myself parting with it. I didn't think I'd want to keep it knowing what was coming.

FYI, the proper order to watch the series is as follows: Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, T2 3-D: Battle Across Time (Optional), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator Salvation. You may be asking yourself, "Okay, if John goes into the future at the end of Chronicles, how the f*ck can he be in T3?" Good question. It's magic.

Necropost, but I felt like Chip might dig it. Summer Glau on Japanese TV, accepting an award for The Sarah Conner Chronicles. And there's a moment where I thought "if she does the WHOLE thing as 'Cameron,' that would be so awesome." But no. Just foolin'